Appeals

How to appeal a decision that affects your financial aid

If you can document expenses greater than your estimated cost of attendance

If you’re classified as a dependent on your FAFSA but you feel you should be classified as independent

If we determine you are not making satisfactory academic progress

If you are seeking financial aid while taking preparatory coursework to gain admission to an IU Bloomington graduate program

If you choose to file an appeal for any of these reasons, please do so at least 30 days before the end of the term. You should receive a decision within 15 business days after you submit your appeal, though it may take longer during busy times of the year.

Each type of appeal requires a different form. Read the form carefully and be sure to submit all signatures, explanations, and documentation required. You may submit forms in person at Student Central or scan and upload your documentation through our secure contact form.

Learn more about each type of appeal below.

Academic progress appeal

Change in income appeal

If you’ve faced financial hardship since you filed your FAFSA, you or your parents may be able to submit a change in income appeal. Note that filing an appeal will not necessarily result in an increase in aid. Contact Student Central to discuss your appeal options or to request a change of income appeal form.

Parents or stepparents of a dependent undergraduate student

You can file an appeal if any of the following apply to you:

You are unemployed and have been for at least 10 consecutive weeks

You had a loss of untaxed income that was reported on the FAFSA

You had a loss of unemployment benefits that were reported to the IRS

You became divorced, separated, or widowed since filing the FAFSA

You incurred and paid out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses that exceeded 11 percent of your income protected allowance (IPA)

You had an unexpected and uncontrollable circumstance (for example, damage from a natural disaster) that caused you to take an early distribution from a retirement fund, reported to the IRS

You lost your home and/or vehicle due to a natural disaster

Students

You can file an appeal if any of the following apply to you:

You had a decrease in income

You had a loss of untaxed income that was reported on the FAFSA

You had a loss of unemployment benefits that were reported to the IRS

You are an independent student who became divorced, separated, or widowed since filing your FAFSA

Reasons that should not be appealed

We are not likely to consider appeals for the following reasons:

Private school tuition

Debt such as mortgages, consumer debt, or bankruptcy

Consortium appeal

If you’re a degree-seeking student at IU Bloomington and would like to receive aid while enrolled at another IU campus, you’ll need to file a consortium appeal.

Cost of attendance appeal

You may be eligible for additional financial aid if you can show expenses greater than your estimated cost of attendance.

Dependent or independent students

All students can file an appeal for additional direct educational expenses, including:

Dependent students

Independent students

Dependency appeal

If you’re classified as a dependent on your FAFSA but feel there are reasons you should be considered independent instead, you can file a dependency appeal. (Note that a parent’s inability or unwillingness to pay IU costs is not considered a reason for us to reclassify you as independent.) If you’re reclassified as independent, parental information will be removed from your Expected Family Contribution calculation.

To be considered for reclassification, you must show that your student-parent relationship is beyond repair or that there is an extenuating circumstance that shows you should be classified as an independent student. You must submit the following documentation:

A signed letter from you

This letter must explain:

If you received money from either of your parents in the past year, and if so, how much

The last date that you lived with either parent

Why you want to be considered independent, including dates and descriptions of specific incidents that led you to consider yourself independent

What funds, other than financial aid, that you used to support yourself in the last year

A signed letter from a professional with direct knowledge of your situation

This letter can be from a professional such as a high school counselor, therapist, minister, rabbi, social worker, or other professional. The letter must include:

Confirmation of the breakdown or extenuating circumstances in your family

An explanation of their relationship to you and your parents

Their understanding of your family circumstance

A signed letter from a relative

This letter should explain why they believe you should be considered independent, including dates and descriptions of specific incidents.

You should submit any other supporting documents, such as police reports or court orders.

You can mail your documentation or bring it in person to Student Central, or use our secure contact form to submit your documentation. Select “Appeals” under “Financial Aid” as the topic of your message.

Previous dependency appeals

If you’re reclassified as independent, you’ll need to confirm each year that you still meet the conditions for being an independent student. You’ll receive an email in December with a link to a previous dependency appeal confirmation form. (You can also pick up a form at Student Central.)

You should submit your FAFSA online by April 15, without including parent information. If we determine that you’re still independent, we’ll make sure your FAFSA correctly reflects your classification.

Preparatory coursework appeal

If you have received a bachelor’s degree and are taking preparatory coursework to gain admission to an IU Bloomington graduate program, you may be eligible for financial aid. You and the graduate program you wish to enter must fill out a preparatory coursework appeal to affirm that you will be admitted to the program once your coursework is successfully completed.